Feed mechanism



Feb.` 23, 1943. R, L WILCOX FEED MEGHANI SM Filed Feb. 28, 1940 3 SheetS-Sheel l Feb. 23, 1943. v R. l.. WlLcox 2,311,903

FEED MEGHANISM Filed Feb. 28, 1940 3 SheeS--Sleml 2 ATTORNEY Feb. 23, 1943. R WILCOX 2,311,903

FEED MECHANISM Filed Feb. 28, 1940 3 sheets-sheet 3 INVENTOR R10/,W0 53TH? Waco/Y,

Patented Feb. 23, 1943 FEED MECHANISM melma Lester Wilcox, Waterbury, conn., assignor to The Waterbury Fal-rel Foundry and Machine Company, Waterbury, Conn., acorporation -of Connecticut Application February 28, 1940, Serial No. 321,261

` (Cl. 'I4-142) 30Claims.

This invention relates to feed mechanism and particularly to that type of such mechanism as is provided with a make and break element, such as a clutch or the like whereby to control the movement thereof.

One of the objects of this invention lis to provide means whereby feed mechanism of this type may be manually controlled by the operator, who is able to engage or disengage the feed of material at a predetermined time so as always to be assured of a full length feed of such material at each time the make and break or clutch element is thrown into engagement; a further object being to so arrange the mechanism that the make and break or clutch mechanism cannot be actuated to stop the feed of material until it has advanced suiiiciently to present a full length workpiece, and this without special skill upon the part of the operator, that is, the feed mechanism cannot be actuated except at a predetermined time. A further object being to position the parts that are manipulated by the operator so that they are most convenient for him to reach from the position he usually occupies re1- ative to the machine. It is a further object to so design and construct this improved mechanism that it may be readily associated with standard feed mechanisms of this general type. Other objects will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings:

To these and other ends, this invention consists in the feed mechanism having certain details of construction and combinations of parts as will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the'drawings, wherein like numerals of reference indicate like parts in the several figures;

Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of this improved mechanism, the parts in section being taken generally upon line I-I of Figure 2, and the parts in broken lines representing standard feed rolls and a portion of the roll bracket;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation, the parts in section being taken generally upon line 2 2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the mechanism Figure 4 is a detail sectional view, the parts in section being taken generally upon line 4--4 of Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary .sectional view, the parts in section being taken generally upon line 5-5 of Figure 1.

A roller grip type of feed, wherein a plurality of rolls are interposed between the inner wall of 55 Spond with the speed of the machine.

an outer element and angular peripheral planes on an inner element, requires but a slight movement of either element to `cause the rolls to impinge on the surface with which they contact, and thus form a unitary structure and transmitting power from one element to the other. Each roll is subject to the pressure of a spring actuated plunger which moves it normally along the planes with which it is in contact. 'I'his pressure', however, is not suiiicient to make a power transmission contact by the rolls, but is suiiicient to maintain the rolls at a point whereby a slight movement of either element will cause the rolls to impinge and make it possible to transmit power therethrough. The rolls are disengaged from their power transmission positions by. movement ina relative reverse-position, thus releasing the rolls. 'I'his latter movement, however, is resisted to a limited degree by the said plunger springs,

and where the rolls are numerous, as frequently is vthe case, this resistance is increased andmay interfere with an easy and rapid disengaging movement. With this type of feed, operating at a relatively low speed, this resistance is of minor importance. With a high speed, say 400 feeds per minute, any such retarding influence must lbe eliminated, and the roll disengagement be accomplished easily and quickly. In practice, accomplishment of this result is impossible with the roller grip type of feed and assurance of an advance of material between the feed rolls sufficient to always make a full length workpiece. For these and other reasons, apparent to one skilled in the art, such mechanism for transmitting power to the feed rolls is inadequate and unsatisfactory. To obviate this and other diiculties is one of the objects of this invention.

In the invention herein, the parts of the roll grip feed, during the operation of the machine,

are maintained in a power transmission position.

The mechanism for engaging and disengaging the feed rolls and determining the feed of material in this invention functions independently of the roll grip mechanism. Irrespective 0f the high speed of the machine, the feed rolls under the influence of the mechanism herein described will always feed a full length workpiece and may be engaged or disengaged quickly and easily and without any retarding influence, with little or no skill upon the part of the operator.

In a machine operating at a high speed the feed mechanism that successively advances workpieces to thetools thereof, requires rapid intermittent feeding movements of the rolls to corre- Obviously,

part of the operator and that he .be able to engage or disengage the feed at predetermined times to insure the feed of a fulllength workpiece. Al

short length workpiece is liable to injure and damage the machine; or, if perchance it should pass the operating tools, the product would be imperfect. With this improved mechanism the make and break mecha can only function at predetermined times, controlled in part by the operator with the minimum of skill, which positively insures, however, a full length workpiece at each feeding movement.

The invention is shown herein as applied to the feed mechanism of a header, upsetting machine or the like, although not limited thereto, as it is adapted for use with any intermittent feeding mechanism.

In the drawings, I9 indicates a roll frame; II and I2 the upper and lower feed rolls, respectively, fixed on shafts I3 and I4 journaled in the roll frame.

On the shaft I3 is a spur gear I5, and on the shaft I4 is a disk I6, upon 'the hub of which is a pinion I1, the teeth of which mesh into those of the gear I5. Secured to one face of this disk by screws I8 or the like, is a clutch ring', or driven member I9.'

Journaled loosely on the shaft I4 is a bushing 63 and ilxed thereon is a gripping or notched disk 2i or driving member. In each of the notches 22 of this disk is a roll 23, engaged bya pin 24 thrust outwardly by a spring 25 that exerts pressure on the adjacent roll. -The base 26 of each notch is substantially at, extending from the periphery of the disk 2l, at one end to the bottom of the wall dening the notch at the other end (Figure Secured to the outer face of this disk by screws 21 or the like, is an internally toothed coupling member 28. Thus, the gripping or notched disk 2l (driving member) and member 28 become aunitary structure and a gripping engagement is made therewith and the clutch ring I9 (driven member) by the rolls 23 under the tension of the springs 25. When the rolls 23 are in position, just described, and substantially as shown in Figure 5, each impinges upon an adjacent base 26 of a notch 22 in the gripping or notched disk 2I and upon the inner wall of the clutch ring I9. Thus, the rotation of the gripping or notched disk 2I, in the direction of the arrow in Figure 5, imparts rotation to the clutch ring I9, and through it to the lower feed roll shaft I4 and upper feed roll shaft I3 through the pinion I1 and spur'gear I5. The extent of this movement determines the length of material fed between the feed rolls II and I2. Rotation of the gripping or notched disk 2I in the direction opposite from that shown bythe arrow in Figure 5 imparts no rotation to the clutch ring I9. Therefore, the feed shafts I4 and I3 are driven in one direction only.

A rock arm 29 has a drive fit on the bushing 29 and derives `an oscillating motion about the axis of the shaft I4, through a link 30, pivotally connected at one end to the rock arm 29, and adjustably connected at the other end to an oscillating member 55 and whereby it acquires a reciprocatory movement variable in length. The

member 55 is oscillated upon a fixed stud 52 by 75 cams 58 upon a shaft 51 journaled in a fixed part of the machine. Slidably mounted on the bushing 20 is an external toothed coupling member 3 I having the same number of teeth as the internally toothed coupling member 28. Projecting laterally from one face of the member 3| is a half hub 32. the opposite ends of which engage a similar half hub 6I on the rock arm 29 (Figure 2). By this engagement the member 3|. rock arm 29 and bushing 20, oscillateur rock back and forth as a unit. The member 3I with its half hub 32 has relative axial movement to the rock arm. The outer end of the half hub 32 is supported by a collar 33 that also has a sliding movement on the bushing 20. The member 3I moves parallel with the axis of shaft I4 and the teeth thereon mesh with those of the member 28, both having the same number of teeth. This movement is accomplished through a manually actuated shaft 34, suitably journaled in a fixed part and having an arm 35 fixed thereon that carries a pin 36, upon which is journaled a shoe 31 that projects into a groove 38 in the half hub 32. A handle 39 fixed on the shaft 34 is provided on its underside with a web 40. Manipulation of the handle 39 causes the member 3I to move axially upon the bushing 28 and the teeth thereof are engaged with and disengaged from those of the member 28. In its extreme positions the handle 39 is held against accidental movement by a round nose pin 5I in an arm 50 on the handle 39, that is projected outwardly by a spring 53 held under tension by a screw 52. In a fixed part are two spaced depressions 54, into which projects the round nose of pin 5I at the extreme positions of the handle 39.

Journaled on a stud 4I -in a fixed part is a finger 42, which is osclllated in timed relation with other parts through a reciprocating connection 43, by a cam 59 on the shaft 51, through a rock lever 58, held under tension in one direction by a spring 6U. When the finger 42 is in the position shown by full lines in Figure 2 it is in the path of the web 4I) and thus prevents rotation of the handle 39 and shaft 34 and endwlse movement of the member 3I. However, when this finger is moved out of the path of the web portion 40 into the position shown by broken lines in Figure 2, the handle 39 and shaft 34 may be rotated and endwlse movement is imparted to the member 3|.

The timing of the cam 59 Is such that the finger 42 is in the position shown by broken lines in lFigure 2 when the handle 39 is moved to shift the endwlse position of the member 3l to engage and disengage the member 28, and thus control the make and break or clutch mechanism. At all other times the iinger 42 is in the position shown by full lines in Figure 2, when the handle 39 and associated parts cannot be moved.

The pointed end of pawl 48, plvotally mounted on a stud 41, fixed in the side of the member 28, is in register with a space between two of the teeth of the member 28, and is held in contact with the teeth of the member 3|, which has a Wider face than the member 28, by the spring 48 adjustably held in a stud 49, in the side of the member 28. Consequently, the teeth of the member 3l are kept in register with the teeth of the member 28 and will slide into mesh therewith when the feed is engaged by reason of the fact that when the member 34 moves clockwise (the only time when the feed can be engaged) and through the pointed end of the pawl 48 being in engagement with the teeth of the member 3|, it also moves the member 28 clockwise with clutch ring I9 to drive it intermittently in .a-

counter-clockwise direction. As the clutch ring I9 is fastened to the disk I6 and to the shaft I4 the lower feed roll is intermittently rotated counter-clockwise.

To disengage the feed, the teeth ofthe member 3| are withdrawn by endwise movement of the member from engagement Iwith the teeth in the member 28. However, the gripping or notched disk 2l is intermlttenly rotated in a clockwise movement by means of the engagement of the pointed end of the pawl 46 being in constant engagement with the teeth of the member 3| as it oscillates but no movement is imparted-to the clutch ring I9 as the gripping or notcheddisk 2| must rotate in the opposite direction (counter-clockwise) in order that the rolls 23 impinge the inner wall of the clutch ring i9 and thereby rotate the feed rolls.

Suitable brake mechanism 44 (Figure 2) partially encircles the clutch ring I9 and 'disk I 6 to prevent too free movement of the latter and an overthrow of the feed. The tension of this brake mechanism may be varied through the nut 45.

This invention is capable of numerous modifications and changes without departing from the spirit of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device .for imparting an intermittent movement to feed rolls or the like comprising in part, companion members, one having internal teeth and the other external teeth; means for moving one of said members upon acommon axis into and out of mesh with the other member; and meansV constantly .engaged with the teeth of one of the members for aligning the teeth of said member with the spaces between the teeth of the other member as one member is about to be moved intomesh with the other member. 1

2. A device for imparting an intermittent movement to feed rolls or. the like comprising in part, companion members, one having internal teeth and the other external teeth; means for moving one of said members upon a common axis into and out of mesh with the other member; and means for maintaining the teeth of one of said members in alignment with the spaces between the teeth of the other member as one member is about to be moved into mesh with the other member comprising a pawl connected with said member and constantly engaged with the teeth'thereof and having a nose thereon, in line with an open space between two of the teeth, that projects into the path of the teeth of the other member.

3. In a mechanism for operating feed rolls or the like, a rotary member, a make and break connection that includes toothed members or the like, the teeth of one member being movable into and out of 'mesh with the teeth of the other member by or through the instrumentality of the rotary member and positively actuated 'stop mechanism movable into and out of the path of movement of the rotary member, to time the intermeshing of the teeth of said members.

4. In a mechanism for feeding material by means `of feed rolls or the like, which are revolved to a predetermined extent and which grip the material therebetween, a make and break connection for operating the rolls including plural toothed members having a common axis and the teeth of which are movable into and out of mesh with each other, means constantly engaged with and for aligning the teeth of one of the members with the spaces between .the teeth of the other member-as one member is about to be moved into mesh with the other member, meansfor rotating the members when their teeth are in mesh, control means for effecting intermeshi/ng of the teeth to thereby cause both members to olerate throughout a predetermined extent, and independently actuated means for holding the control means inoperative until after the completion of said predetermined rotation of the members and thereby the feed rolls.

5. A mechanism for feeding material in accordance with claim 4, wherein the control means is manually operable.

6. A mechanism for feeding material according to claim 4,'wherein means are provided to hold the control means in its extreme positions against accidental movement.

7. A mechanism for feeding material in accordance with claim 4, wherein the aligning means is carried by one of the members with a portion thereof in register with the open space between two of the teeth thereof and constantly in engagement with the teeth of the other member, whereby to maintain the teeth of one member in alignment with the'spaces between the teeth of the other member as one member is about to be moved into mesh with the other member, so as to mesh when the control means is operated.

8. A mechanism for feeding material in accordanceI with claim 4, wherein the means for holding the control means inoperative is positively actuated and out of the path of the control means while the teeth of the members are being moved into and out of mesh with each other. v

9. A mechanismA for feeding material in accordance with claim 4, wherein the means for holding the control means inoperative is cam actuated and out of the path of the control means while the teeth of the members are bei@ moved into and out of mesh with each other.

10. In mechanism for feeding material in accordance with claim 4, wherein the control means is rotatable and is connected to one of the toothed members to slide the same upon rotation of the control means, and wherein there is a positively actuated member movable into and out of the path of movementl of the control means to prevent operation of the control means when said positively actuated member is in the path thereof.

11. In mechanism for feeding material in accordance with claim 4, wherein the control means-is rotatable and is connected to one of the toothed members to slide the same upon rotation of the control means, and wherein there is a cam actuated member movable into and out of the path of movement of the control means to prevent operation of the control means when said cam actuated member is in the path thereof.

12. A mechanism for feeding material in accordance with claim 4, wherein the means for holding the control means inoperative comprises in part nnger.

a finger and cam means for actuating the whereby the same is moved into and out of the path of the control means while the teeth of thetoothed members are being moved into and aut of mesh with each other.

13. A -mechanism for feeding material in accordance with claim 4, wherein the means for holding the control means inoperative comprise in part a rock member, cam means for actuating the rock member, a nger and a connection between the rock member and finger, and whereby the linger is moved into and out of the path of the control means while the teeth of the toothed members are being moved into and out of mesh with each other. v

14. A mechanism for feeding material in accordance with claim 4, wherein the aligning means for the teeth of the toothed members includes a pawl carried by one member and having a nose in line with the open space between two teeth thereof and constantly in engagement with the teeth of the other member for maintaining the teeth of one of the members in alignment with the spaces between the teeth of the other member as the members are about to be moved into mesh, whereby the teeth of the members will intermesh with each other by reason of said pawl as one member is slidable by the control meansV toward the other member.

15. A mechanism for feeding material in accordance'with claim 4, wherein one of the members has internal teeth and the other external teeth.

16. A mechanism for feeding material in accordance with claim 4, wherein one of the members has internal teeth and the other external teeth, and wherein one of the members has a part of the teeth means carried thereby and constantly in engagement with the teeth of the other member as the members are about to be moved into mesh to maintain the teeth of the members for intermeshing.

11. In mechanism of the character described: a shaft; a rock arm journaled to rotate about the shaft; adjustable means for imparting an oscillating movement to the rock arm; to vary the extent of movement of the latter, and a member journaled to rotate about the shaft and slide axially in relation thereto and deriving an oscillatingmovement from the rock arm.

18. In mechanism of the character described; a'shaft; a rock arm journaled to rotate about the shaft; means for imparting an oscillating movement to the rock arm; and a member journaled to rotate about the shaft and slide in relation thereto, said rock arm and member having engaging shoulders whereby the oscillating movement of the rock arm is transmitted to the member.

19. In mechanism of the character described; a shaft; a rock arm journaled to rotate about the shaft; means for imparting an oscillating movement to the rock arm; and a member journaled to rotate about `the shaft and slide in relation thereto, both said rock arm and member having a half hub which are in engagement with each other, and whereby the oscillating movement of the rock arm is transmitted tov the member.

20. In mechanism of the character described; a shaft; a rock arm journaled to rotate about the shaft; means for imparting an oscillating movement to the rock arm; and a member journaled to rotate about the shaft and slide in relation thereto, both said rock arm and member having a half hub which are in engagement with each other. and whereby the oscillating movement of the rock arm is transmitted to the member irrespective of the relative axial positions oi' the rock arm and member.

21.- In mechanism of the character described: a toothed member; a shaft; a rock arm journaled to rotate about the shaft; means for imparting an oscillating movement to the rock arm; a second toothed member journaled to rotate about the shaft and slide in relation thereto and oscillated by the rock arm; laligning means carried by the said first toothed member with a portion thereof in register with the open space between two of the teeth thereof and constantly in engagement with the teeth of the second toothed member whereby to maintain the teeth of one of the toothed members in alignment with spaces between the teeth of the other member as the members are about to be moved into mesh; and means for imparting a sliding movement to the second toothed member relative to the first toothed member, whereby said second toothed member is moved toward and away from the first toothed member. y

22. In mechanism of the character described; a toothed member; a shaft; arock arm journaled to rotate about the shaft; means for imparting an oscillating movement to the rock arm; a second toothed member journaled to rotate about the shaft and slide in relation thereto and oscillated by the rock arm; and means for imparting a sliding movement to the second toothed member relative to the shaft and the rock arm and whereby said second toothed member is moved toward and away from the first toothed member, comprising in part, an arm, a connection between the arm and the secondtoothed member,

and manual means for moving the arm about its axis of rotation.

23.. A mechanismfor feeding material in accordance with claim 4,- wherein the aligning means for the toothed members includes a pawl carried by one member thereof and having a nose in register with the open space between two teeth thereof and constantly in engagement with the teeth of the other member for maintaining the teeth of one of the members in alignment with the spaces between the teeth of the other member as the members are about to be moved into mesh and wherein the teeth Vof the members will intermesh with each other by reason of said aligning means as one member is slidable by the control means toward the other member, and a member whereby to subject the pawl to spring tension.

24. In mechanism of the character described; a toothed member; a shaft; a rock arm journaled to rotate about the shaft; means for 1mparting an oscillating movement to the rock arm; a Second toothed member journaled to rotate about the shaft and slide in relation thereto and oscillated by the rock arm; and manually actuated means for imparting a sliding movement to the second toothed member relative to the shaft and the rock arm whereby to move said second toothed member toward and away from whereby the oscillating movement of the rock arm is transmitted to the member.

26. In mechanism of the character described; a shaft; a rock arm Journaled to rotate about the shaft; means for imparting an oscillating movement to the rock arm; and a member journaled to rotate about the shaft and slide in relation thereto, both saidrock arm and member having a half hub which have constant and sliding frictional engagement with each other, and whereby the oscillating movement of the rock arm is transmitted to the member.

27. In mechanism of the character described; a shaft; a rock arm journaled to rotate about the shaft; means for imparting an oscillating movement to the rock arm; and a member journaled to rotate about the shaft and slide in relation thereto, both said rock arm and member having a half hub which have constant and sliding frictional engagement with each other, and whereby the oscillating movement of the rock arm is transmitted to the member irrespective of the relative axial positions of the rock arm and member.

28. In mechanism of the character described; a shaft;V a rock arm journaled to rotate about the shaft and held against axial movement thereon; means for imparting an oscillating movement to the rock arm; and a member journaled to rotate about the shaft and slide in relation thereto, said rock arm and member having engaging shoulders which have constant sliding frlctional engagement with each other and whereby the oscillating movement of the roel: arm is transmitted to the member.

29. In mechanism of the character described;

a shaft; a rock arm journaled to rotate about,

the shaft and held against endwise movement; means for imparting oscillating movement to the rock arm; and an element having a toothed member forming part thereof journaled to rotate about the shaft and slide in relation to and be oscillated by the rock arm.

30. In mechanism of the character described; a toothed member held against axial movement; a shaft; a rock arm Journaled to rotate about the shaft and held against axial movement; means for imparting an oscillating movement to the rock arm; a second toothed member :lournaled to rotate about the shaft and slide in relation to and oscillated by the rock arm; manually actuated means for imparting a sliding movement to the second toothed member relative to the shaft and the rock arm. whereby to move said second toothed member toward and away from the toothed member; and means for maintaining the teeth of one of the toothed members in alignment with the spaces between the teeth of the other member as the members are about to be moved into mesh and wherein the teeth of the toothed members will intermesh with each other by reason of said aligning means as one toothed member is moved toward the other toothed member.

RICHARD LESTER. WIDCOX. 

